Easter has been and gone and most of us have eaten our fair
share of chocolate but there’s one member of the family who can’t join in the
same way – our dogs. Of course there are alternatives including a chocolate
that is safe for dogs and other pets to eat.
There is often a concern around Easter with pets and
chocolate as it is often left in easy to reach places and at times there can be
a large amount of chocolate sat in your home at once. But why is it that dogs
and other animals can’t indulge on this treat like we do?
Well you might be interested to know that chocolate contains
a toxic chemical known as Theobromine which can be poisonous to not just dogs
but us as well.
However, processed chocolate has a reduced amount of this
toxin than the pure Cocoa bean. This means that the chocolate we consume is
safe but there is still a potential risk of serious side effects if consumed in
high quantities.
Other animals however digest and process Theobromine at a
much slower rate than we do and can easily consume enough chocolate to result
in poisoning. The fat and sugar that’s found in most chocolates could also
cause potential pancreatitis.
How to know if your
dog has eaten chocolate:
Sometimes a lack of evidence is the clearest explanation.
Did you have chocolate in an accessible place and it’s no longer there and no
one else could have taken it? Safe to say, the dog probably got to it. There
are various signs and symptoms that your dog may display if they have eaten too
much chocolate:
- · vomiting
- · diarrhoea
- · dehydration
- · increased urination
- · hyperactive behaviour
- · whining
- · seizures
- · rapid heart rate
- · muscular spasms
- · excessive panting
- · digestive problems
Take your dog to the vet immediately if you are worried for your dog’s health. Unfortunately, chocolate poisoning is life-threatening and requires immediate attention.
Always remember to keep chocolate and other toxic items in an unreachable, inaccessible location or lock it away.
